Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Central Switzerland aiming to reduce their emissions can now register for the second round of the Innerschweizer Klimaprogramm. In the first round, 15 companies from the region took a close look at their emissions, identifying where the most air pollutants were generated within their operations and how they could reduce them effectively and cost-efficiently.
According to a statement, the climate funding program will now be continued by Zelsius AG and the Albert Koechlin Foundation and made available to additional companies. Zelsius is a spin-off of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, based at Technopark Lucerne and led by Adina Hochuli. SMEs from the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, and Lucerne have been able to apply for the second round of the program for the past few days.
The two partners have noted significant interest in the program, particularly among industrial and manufacturing companies. They point out that business customers and clients are increasingly requesting information about the climate impact of companies and their products. This information is also becoming more important in competitive bidding.
The Albert Koechlin Foundation covers up to 83 per cent of the costs for consulting services and the initial carbon footprint assessment. According to Zelsius, this ensures that even small businesses with limited resources can take action to protect the climate. “It is important to us that this program offers as few barriers as possible to taking climate action,” emphasizes Marcel Niederberger, program director of the Innerschweizer Klimaprogramm. ce/mm